Diego Armando Maradona: The tormented genius who became one of football’s greatest players

“A little bit with the head of Maradona and a little bit with the hand of God.”

Those four words – “the hand of God” – describe one of the most iconic moments in football history, a goal that belongs to one of the most iconic footballers in the game’s history – Diego Armando Maradona, who has died at the age of 60.

Maradona was born in 1960 in the Villa Fiorito area of Buenos Aires and would go on to become one of the most famous faces on the planet.

On the afternoon of that moment of divine intervention, a sweltering day in Mexico City in 1986, Maradona was at the peak of his powers.

While that first goal against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup – a punch of the ball over goalkeeper Peter Shilton, a player who stood 20 centimeters taller than the diminutive Argentine – showcased Maradona’s guile, the one that followed four minutes later displayed in full the majesty of his footballing abilities.

Maradona runs past English defender Terry Butcher (left) on his way to dribbling goalkeeper Peter Shilton (right) and scoring his second goal against England in the World Cup in 1986.

After receiving the ball inside his own half, Maradona weaved this way and that, his short, stocky legs pumping rapidly as he left seven England defenders in his wake, rounded Shilton and slotted the ball into the net.

“Genius! Genius! Genius!” went the legendary commentary of announcer Victor Hugo Morales. “What planet did you come from? I want to cry.”

So did England’s players, and its nation of football fans, but not for the same reasons. That second goal was later voted FIFA’s “World Cup Goal of the Century.” It’s a fitting title for undoubtedly one of the greatest goals ever scored.

Maradona was unquestionably a household name before the 1986 World Cup, but after leading Argentina to the title he became a bonafide global superstar.

READ: Sex, drugs and soccer: Diego Maradona film shines light on Napoli years

- Source: CNN " data-fave-thumbnails="{"big": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/190517194655-cannes-2019-diego-maradona-1.jpg?q=x_272,y_322,h_811,w_1441,c_crop/h_540,w_960" }, "small": { "uri": "https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/190517194655-cannes-2019-diego-maradona-1.jpg?q=x_272,y_322,h_811,w_1441,c_crop/h_540,w_960" } }" data-vr-video="false" data-show-html="" data-byline-html="

" data-timestamp-html="

Updated 6:06 AM EST, Fri November 27, 2020

" data-check-event-based-preview="" data-is-vertical-video-embed="false" data-network-id="" data-publish-date="2019-06-12T08:51:32Z" data-video-section="sport" data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2019/06/11/diego-maradona-football-documentary-sports-lon-orig-ejk.cnn" data-branding-key="" data-video-slug="diego maradona football documentary sports lon orig ejk" data-first-publish-slug="diego maradona football documentary sports lon orig ejk" data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,diego maradona,football (soccer),movie directors,movies,sports and recreation,sports figures" data-details="">

Video Ad Feedback

Soccer legend Maradona opens up in new documentary (2019)

02:06 - Source: CNN

The highs and lows

Maradona’s stratospheric highs on the pitch were matched by extreme lows off it. His well-documented addiction, substance abuse, illegitimate children and feuds over money all blighted the Argentine at various stages throughout his career.

An unacknowledged son, photo ops with the mafia and cocaine binges were shown in British Oscar-winning film-maker Asif Kapadia’s documentary on Maradona’s time at Napoli, arguably the period of his footballing career where he had the most success.

While he was captivating the world and bringing glory to Argentina in Mexico, Maradona’s personal life was shrouded in controversy.

His mistress Cristiana Sinagra was back in Italy, heavily pregnant with Diego Armando Maradona Sinagra. For years he refused to acknowledge paternity and did not meet his son until 2003.

Kapadia’s film shows occasions when Maradona came into contact with the Camorra – the Neapolitan mafia – with the documentary flashing up photographs of the footballer smiling alongside members of the crime syndicate.

As a Napoli player at the height of his addiction he would party from Sunday to Wednesday, Maradona describing how he would return home and lock himself in the bathroom to hide from his infant daughters.

Diego Maradona is carried around the field after leading Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup final. Argentina defeated West Germany at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

A 16-year-old Maradona warms up in Buenos Aires in 1977. A year earlier, he made his professional debut with the club Argentinos Juniors. A few months after that, he made his international debut with Argentina's national team.

Maradona celebrates on the shoulders of teammates after they won the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championships.

Maradona sits at his home in Buenos Aires in 1980. From the earliest days of his career, he was known as "El Pibe de Oro" ("The Golden Boy").

Maradona is carried by fans after leading Buenos Aires club Boca Juniors to a championship in 1981. The next year, Boca Juniors sold Maradona to Spanish club Barcelona for a world-record fee.

Maradona, playing for Barcelona, dribbles past Manchester United players in 1984.

Maradona married Claudia Villafa?e in 1984. They had two daughters together before divorcing in 2004.

During the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup, Maradona outjumps England goalkeeper Peter Shilton to score. The ball went in off Maradona's hand and should have been disallowed, but the officials missed the call. It is now known as the "Hand of God" goal after Maradona said he hit the ball a little with his head "and a little with the hand of God."

In the same match against England, Maradona scored another goal that would go down in history. He started from his own half, dribbling past many English defenders on his way to scoring what was later called "The Goal of the Century."

Maradona and Pelé hold "Sports Oscar" trophies in 1987. In 2000, the two split FIFA's Player of the Century award.

Maradona ties his shoelaces before a friendly game against West Germany in 1987.

Maradona holds his daughters Dalma and Giannina in 1989.

Maradona celebrates a teammate's goal during the 1990 World Cup. Argentina advanced to the final but lost to West Germany.

Maradona was back for his fourth World Cup in 1994, but it wasn't for long.

Maradona addresses the media after Argentina dropped him from the 1994 World Cup team. Just hours before the team's final first-round game, it was revealed that he had tested positive for the use of ephedrine, a banned stimulant. In 1991, Maradona tested positive for cocaine use and was banned for the sport for 15 months.

Maradona is joined by his wife, Claudia, and their daughters Giannina, left, and Dalma while celebrating his 35th birthday in 1995.

Maradona kisses his Boca Juniors teammate Claudio Caniggia after a goal against rival River Plate in 1996. Maradona finished out his playing career at Boca, where he starred in the early 1980s before moving to Europe.

Maradona talks to Cuban President Fidel Castro before recording a TV show in Havana, Cuba, in 2005.

Maradona balances a ball on his head at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2008. A Maradona documentary was making its premiere at the festival.

Maradona, as manager of Argentina's national team, is greeted by schoolchildren before the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Maradona celebrates a goal during the 2010 World Cup. The team advanced to the quarterfinals before being eliminated by Germany.

Maradona gives instructions to Argentina star Lionel Messi during a match at the 2010 World Cup.

Maradona meets another famous Argentine, Pope Francis, in 2014.

Maradona, attending the 2018 World Cup as a fan, celebrates an Argentina goal in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Maradona greets fans outside the Casa Rosada government house after meeting with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez in 2019.

Maradona's last managerial job was with Argentine club Gimnasia y Esgrima. Here, he is seen before a match in January 2020.

A woman walks past a Maradona mural in San Justo, Argentina, in October 2020.

In pictures: Soccer legend Diego Maradona

Prev Next

The God of Naples

Despite football eventually leading him down this dark path, Maradona described the sport as his “salvation.” His talent helped him raise his family out of poverty, leaving Boca Juniors in his native Argentina for a world record transfer fee to Barcelona in 1982.

The five foot, five inch magician spent two injury-ravaged years at the Catalan club, never fully realizing his potential, before signing for Napoli – or, as one newsreader put it: “The poorest city in Italy buys the most expensive player in the world.”

In the city of Naples, football is a religion to its inhabitants. Maradona would go on to become their God.

Fans of SSC Napoli wave a flag depicting former Argentine forward Diego Armando Maradona.

At his unveiling, 70,000 fans flocked to Napoli’s San Paolo stadium to catch a glimpse of their new signing, scarcely able to believe that the greatest footballer on the planet had chosen to play for their team.

During his seven years at the club, he would guide Napoli, almost single-handedly, to its first ever Serie A title in 1987. He followed it up by winning a second three years later, while also leading the team to Italian Cup and UEFA Cup glory.

Murals of Maradona’s face are painted far and wide across the city, some depicting “The Golden Boy” with a shimmering halo. Though he hails from another continent entirely, Maradona became Naples’ adopted son.

Following a failed drug test in 1991 and a 15-month ban from football, as well as another failed drug test at the 1994 World Cup, his career on the pitch fizzled out. While he had stints in Spain and back in Argentina, he failed to reclaim that form which dazzled fans and opponents.

Diego Maradona directs his Gimnasia team from a pitch side throne.

Maradona’s subsequent nomadic managerial career took him from a chaotic spell in charge of the Argentine national team to the domestic league in the United Arab Emirates.

His time in charge of Mexican club Dorados, which was documented in the behind the scenes Netflix series “Maradona in Mexico,” was surprisingly successful, but ultimately ended with two narrow promotion play-off defeats.

The red carpet was rolled out wherever Maradona went – or a throne, as was the case when he returned to boyhood side in Newell’s Old Boys’ while in charge of current club Gimnasia y Esgrima de La Plata.

Many have played the game, but none have left a lasting mark quite like El Diego.